Polevaulter Wilma Heltelä visited the Next Generation athletes’ team day. Photos by Jesse Väänänen.The Next Generation Team Finland, a team of high-performance athletes launched last spring, gathered on Tuesday.
The purpose of the Next Generation team days is clear: to create a meeting place for the young top talents in similar situations, to provide valuable learning opportunities, and to help the athletes’ coaches network with one another.
Tuesday’s team day session featured a wealth of information on marketing communications, personal branding, and media — exactly the areas where the athletes had hoped to receive help. In addition, Wilma Heltelä, a European Champion in pole vault, shared her own journey to the top with the young athletes, along with the insights she gained along the way.
Highlights from the Next Gen Team Day
What is Next Generation Team Finland?
This spring, the Finnish Olympic Committee launched the Next Generation program, which is aimed at high-performance athletes aged 15–22.
The program’s goal is to better identify athletes with the potential for success and help them reach the very top of the world. In the first phase, 21 young athletes have been selected for the program.
Through the program, each young athlete will receive a personalized support package worth over 10,000 euros, which includes financial support, expert guidance, products, and services. The program is implemented in collaboration with sports federations and the elite sports network.